Electric switch device



H. DAVIES ET AL ELECTRIC SWITCH DEVICE Aug. 26, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 15. 1954 Au -26,1958 H. DAVIES Em 2, 4 ,5 1

ELECTRIC SWITCH DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 15, 1954 ELECTRIC SWHTCH DEVICE Howard Davies and Algernon C. Towe, Yeadon, Pa, asslgnors, by mesne assignments, to said Davies Application September 15, 1954, Serial No. 456,182

13 Claims. (Cl. 20ll104) This invention relates to electric switch devices, and more particularly to switch devices of the type employing an electromagnet and an associated armature to effect and maintain engagement of the switch contacts by energization of the electromagnet. Such switch devices are generally used for remote control operation, as where it is desired to start and stop a motor from a remote location.

In some instances it is required that provision be made in the immediate vicinity of the controlled load for manual opening of the load circuit directly by the manual opening of switch contacts in said circuit. The purpose of this is to enable positive and assured opening of the load circuit in an emergency. Merely providing for opening of the energizing cricuit of the electromagnet does not suffice to meet this requirement, as the main switch contacts may stick and may not open in response to deenergization of the electromagnet.

In the past the above requirement has been met by providing a second switch in the load circuit in series with the main switch, this second switch being manually operable and sometimes being in the same enclosure or casing with the main control switch, but more often in a separate enclosure. This has necessitated substantial additional cost and it is generally objectionable from the standpoint of the user. I

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a switch device which meets the above-mentioned requirement with very little additional cost beyond the cost of the conventional magnetic switch device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch device in which provision is made for manually and directly opening the same contacts which are normally controlled by the electromagnet, thereby eliminating the need for a second switch and the substantial additional cost incident thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch device which is of generally conventional form and which requires only small and inexpensive modification of the conventional device.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front view of a switch device embodying the invention, with the front cover of the casing removed;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but with the switch closed by energization of the electromagnet;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but with the switch opened manually;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a plan of a switch device embodying a modified form of the invention and showing the switch in closed position;

Fig. 8 is a front view of the same partly broken away;

gigs? Pat-onto Aug. 26, 1958 Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8, showing the parts in contact position; and

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but with the switch opened manually.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 6, the switch device shown therein is generally of conventional form and it comprises a boxor casing 10 which is adapted to be mounted in vertical position on a suitable support such as a wall or panel-board, and which serves to house the switch structure. A rear mounting plate 11 is secured to the rear wall of the casing 10 and serves to support the entire switch structure. A pair of angle members 12 and 13 are secured to plate 11 and are bridged by a supporting plate 14 secured to said angle members, the plate 14 serv ing to support the structure 15 which is formed of insulating material and which serves to mount the stationary terminals and switch contacts. This structure is conventional and for the purpose of the present application it sufiices merely to note that there are front and rear stationary contacts 13 and 1?. Also of conventional form is the movable contact assembly which comprises a carriage member 29 formed of insulating material and bridge contact members 21 resiliently carried thereby by means of springs 22. In Figs. 1 and 2 the switch is open and the bridge contact members 21 are out of engagement with the stationary contacts 18 and 19. Upward movement of the carriage member 20 brings the bridge contact members 21 into engagement with the stationary contacts 18 and t9, and the springs 22 are compressed and effect firm engagement of the contacts.

The carriage member 2% is attached to the upper end of a vertically extending flat bar 23 which is carried by a movable magnetic armature 2 that is actuable by the electromagnet 25. The movable assembly, comprising the carriage member 20, the contact members carried thereby, the connecting bar 23 and the armature 24, is biased gravitationally to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in which the carriage member 20 engages the sides 26 and 27 of a yoke or frame 23 secured to the angle members l2 and 13. As hereinafter described, the yoke or frame 28 serves to support the electromagnet. Energization of the electromagnet 25 causes upward movement of the vertically movable assembly and effects engagement of the bridge contact members 21 with the stationary contacts 18 and 19. The front terminals 16 are connected to the load circuit being controlled While the rear terminals 17 are connected to the line, so that the bridging of the stationary contacts 13 and 19 effects closure of the load circuit which normally remains closed until the electromagnet 25 is deenergized. For remote control purposes, the energizing circuit for the electromagnet 25 extends to the remote control location at which a switch is provided to close the energizing circuit for the electromagnet. As thus far described, the switch device is substantially of conventional form.

In accordance with the present invention, provision is made for direct manual opening of the switch contacts so as to meet the aforementioned requirement that there be provision for direct manual opening of the load circuit. To accomplish this purpose, the electromagnet 25 is arranged for vertical movement between a normal position in which it is effective for its intended purpose and another position in which it is ineffective to control the switch contacts or to maintain them closed. Further, by the arrangement provided, the movement of the electromagnet to the said other position when the switch contacts are closed insures opening of the contacts and overcomes any tendency of their sticking together.

The electromagnet is of conventional form in that it comprises an inverted U-shaped magnetic structure 29 formed of laminations of magnetic material and a coil 3!) Within the inverted U-shaped structure, The associated armature 24 is also of conventional form, being formed of magnetic laminations and comprising a core portion Bil extending within the coil 39 and a lower transverse portion 32 which is cooperativewith thepole extensions 33 at the ends of the inverted U-shaped mag netic structure 29. As may be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the flat bar 23 extends centrally within the laminated armature and is integrated therewith as a part of the laminated structure, and this bar extends through a slot opening 34 at the top of the inverted U-shaped magnetic structure 29. The bar has a slot opening 35 therein, and a screw as carried by the magnetic structure 29 extends within the slot opening 35 and helps to guide the vertical movement of the hat bar. The upper end of the fiat bar is secured by screws 37 to the contact car rier 20.

The electromagnet assembly comprising the magnetic structure 29 and the coil fill is movable within the frame 28 between the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 5. As may be seen in Pig. 6, the hack of the magnetic structure 29 bears against the forward edges of the angle members l2 and 13, while the front of the magnetic structure 29 is engaged by upper and lower rollers 38 and 39 carried by the sides ant 27 of the frame 28. Secured to the lower portion of the magnetic structure 29 at the rear ttereo; is a downwardly extending plate 40 which is bifurcated at its lower portion to accommodate a bearing sleeve 41 which is r .y mounted on a pin 4-2 secured to the plate 46 by means or" riveted straps 43. The rotatable sleeve is engaged by a bifurcated arm 44- secured to a rod or shaft 45 which is supported at its end portion by a supporting bearing 46 mounted on the casing 10, and which is also rotatably supported at 47 by a side wall of the casing which is apertured to accommodate the rod. Outside the casing the rod a5 is bent at right angles and is provided with a handle 4-8. A bracket 49 is secured to the outside of casing to and has two recesses 50 and 51 to retain the rod in either of two positions. When the rod is in the position shown in Fig. 1 so that it is retained by recess 5d, the electromagnet assembly or unit is in the normal position for operation of the switch by means of the electromagnet. In the event of an emergency the rod is moved manually from recess 50 to recess 52. and this effects downward movement of the electromagnet assembly or unit from the position of Fig. 3 to the position of Fig. 5. if the switch contacts are closed at the time, the downward movement of the electromagnet unit eflects'positive opening of the contacts by moving the armature downwardly. When it is desired to resume normal operation rod 45 is moved manually back to the recess 5d, thus raising the electromagnet unit to its normal position.

in a switch device of the character provided by this invention as above-described, it is desirable to open the energizing circuit for the clectromagnet at the switch device. Provision for opening the said energizing circuit by the manual means above-described is accomplished as follows. An insulating supporting block 52 is mounted at the front upper part of frame 28, and two terminal members 53 and are mounted on block 52 and carry spring-biased contact buttons 55 and 56. On the front of the vertically movable electromagnet unit is mounted a contact bridge 57 carrying contacts 58 and 5) which engage the contact buttons 55 and 56 when the electromagnet unit is in its normal position. The switch constituted by these contact elements is serially connected in the energizing circuit of coil 30 by proper connection to terminals 53 and 54. When the said unit is moved to its lower position, as shown in Fig. 5, the contacts 58 and 5) are moved out of engagement with the contact buttons and 56, to open the energizing circuit of coil 36 Preferably, the contacts open slightly in advance of the mechanical opening of the main contacts. If the main contacts do not stick, the deenergization of coil 3t will permit the switch to open by, gravity,

but if the main contacts should stick, the forceful opening thereof will take place. Because of the springs 22, the electromagnet assembly or unit can move slightly to open contacts 55, 58 and 56, 59 before mechanical opening of the main contacts takes place. To provide for the advance opening of contacts 55, 53 and 56, 59 it is merely necessary to have these contacts arranged so that they will open upon slight movement of the electromagnet unit.

in the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 to it), the terminals for the source circuit and the load circuit are stationary and mounted in vertical spaced relation, thus upper posts 61 and 62 are terminals from the source of voltage, and the posts 63 and 64 are termifor the load or motor circuit. The terminals 61 and "e arranged to be connected by a spring-pressed contztctor bridge 65 carried at one end of an insulated movable carriage 66, while the terminals 62 and 64 are arranged to be connected by a spring-pressed contactor bridge 67 carried at the opposite end of the carriage 66. The carriage 66 is attached to two spaced legs 68 which extend laterally inward to terminate as a hinge on a transverse rod 69. Also the legs 68 mount the armature 70, of the electromagnetic unit, the armature being formed of magnetic laminations, as will be understood. Thus, the carriage 66, its contactor bridges and the armature are free to swing about the rod 69 as a horizontal axis to close the load circuit when swinging in one direction and to open the load circuit when swinging in the opposite direction. Normally, this swing to closed contact position is by energizing the magnetic coil structure 71, which in this instance is hinged to also swing about the rod 69 in order to manually open the switch when necessary even though the magnet may remain energized. it will be seen that the carriage 66 and the magnet structure 71 have a common center of rotation to move arcuately together.

As a means for manually shifting the magnetic structure 71 and its coil '72, from its position for normal functioning as a true magnetic switch, to a position where the carriage 66 is held out of contact closing position, two cars 73 project outwardly from the structure to mount a transverse pin 74, which rides in a slot 75, of a toggle link 76. This link 76 has its lower end fixed to a rockshaft 77, which is journalled in bearings 78 on the outer face of the box. The rock-shaft 77, is manually operated by a handle (not shown) located conveniently.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the invention provides a. simple and compact structure which embodies in a switch device of generally conventional form provision for effecting manual opening of the main witch contacts whenever desired, While particular structural embodiments have been illustrated and described, the invention is not limited thereto, but contemplates such further embodiments and modifications as may occur to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. In an electric switch, stationary switch contacts, other switch contacts movable into and out of engagement wtih said stationary contacts, electrically operable actuating means for said movable contacts, said actuating means comprising a normally stationary energizable component and a movable component, means mechanically connecting said movable contacts to said movable component, said normally stationary component being normally in a position in which it is eifective upon being energized to actuate said movable component to effect engagement of said contacts and to maintain them engaged until such time as said normally stationary component is deenergized, means supporting said normally stationary component for movement, and manually-operable means actuatable at will to move said normally stationary component to another position in which it is ineffective to maintain or eltect engagement of said-contacts, and to insure disengagement of said contacts.

2. In an electric switch, stationary switch contacts, other switch contacts movable into and out of engagement with said stationary contacts, electrically operable actuating means for said movable contacts, said actuating means comprising a normally stationary electromagnet and a movable magnetic armature, means mechanically connecting said movable contacts to said armature, said electromagnet being normally in a position in which it is eifective upon being energized to actuate said armature to effect engagement of said contacts and to maintain them engaged until such time as said electromagnet is deenergized, means supporting said electromagnet for movement, and manually-operable means actuatable at will to move said electromagnet to another position in which it is ineffective to maintain or elfect engagement of said contacts, and to insure disengagement of said contacts.

3. In an electric switch, stationary switch contacts, other switch contacts movable into and out of engagement with said stationary contacts, electrically operable actuating means for said movable contacts, said actuating means comprising a normally stationary electromagnet and a movable magnetic armature, means mechanically connecting said movable contacts to said armature, said electromagnet being normally in a position in which it is efliective upon being energized to actuate said armature to effect engagement of said contacts and to maintain them engaged until such time as said electromagnet is deenergized, means supporting said electromagnet for movement, a shaft mounted for rotary movement and having an operating handle, and means operatively interconnecting said shaft with said electromagnet to move the latter at will to another position in which it is ineifective to maintain or effect engagement of said contacts, and to insure disengagement ofsaid contacts.

4. In an electric switch device adapted for vertical mounting, a stationary support structure, stationary switch contacts mounted on said structure, an electromagnet mounted on said structure below said contacts for vertical movement between an upper position and a lower position, manually operable means for moving said electromagnet between said positions, a gravity-biased armature movable upwardly by said electromagnet upon energization of the latter in its upper position, and switch contacts supported by said armature and movable thereby in association with said stationary contacts, said electromagnet only when in its upper position being effective to actuate said armature to effect and maintain engagement of said contacts, and when moved to its lower position insuring disengagement of the contacts.

5. In an electric switch device, a casing adapted for vertical mounting, a stationary support structure within said casing, stationary switch contacts mounted on said structure, an electromagnet mounted on said structure below said contacts for vertical movement between an upper position and a lower position, a shaft mounted in said casing for rotary movement and having a handle outside said casing to actuate the shaft, means operatively interconnecting said shaft with said electromagnet to move the latter between said positions by operation of said handle, a gravity-biased armature movable upwardly by said electromagnet upon energization of the latter in its upper position, and switch contacts supported by said armature and movable thereby in association with said stationary contacts, said electromagnet only when in its upper position being effective to actuate said armature to effect and maintain engagement of said contacts, and when moved to its lower position insuring disengagement of the contacts.

6. In an electric switch, stationary switch contacts, movable switch contacts engageable with said stationary contacts, a carriage mounting said movable contacts for movement toward and away from said stationary contacts, an armature fixed to said carriage, an electromagnet normally arranged when energized to move said armature to shift said carriage to close said contacts, means supporting said electromagnet for movement, and manually operable means for moving said electromagnet to shift said carriage to open said contacts.

7. An electric switch according to claim 6, wherein said manual means includes a toggle mechanism.

8. An electric switch according to claim 6, wherein said carriage is hinged for rocking movement relative to said electromagnet to close said contacts when the electromagnet is energized.

9. An electric switch according to claim 8, wherein said electromagnet is movably mounted to transmit motion to said carriage to open said contacts when operated by said manual means.

10. An electric switch according to claim 8, wherein said electromagnet is hinged for rocking movement to transmit motion to said carriage to open said contacts when operated by said manual means.

11. An electric switch according. to claim 10, wherein said carriage and said electromagnet are hinged about a common axis.

12. In an electric switch, stationary switch contacts, movable switch contacts engageable with said stationary contacts, a carriage mounting said movable contacts for movement toward and away from said stationary con tacts, an armature fixed to said carriage, an electromagnet, means mounting said electromagnet to assume either of two positions, said electromagnet in one position attracting said armature to close said contacts, and in the other position holding said carriage with said contacts open, and manual means operable at will for moving said electromagnet.

13. An electric switch according to claim 12, wherein said manual means includes a toggle mechanism.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,582,987 Hart May 4, 1926 1,612,348 Baxter Dec. 28, 1926 1,813,191 Mottlau July 7, 1931 1,995,896 Pengilly et a1. Mar. 26, 1935 2,283,795 Dahl May 19, 1942 2,304,972 Van Valkenburg et al. Dec. 15, 1942 2,434,096 Ayers et a1. Jan. 6, 1948 2,500,635 Hammerly Mar. 14, 1950 2,551,373 Hammerly May 1, 1951 

